I was 15 when I saw my first dead show in 1990, it was my only Brent show. My older brother was 22 and he had been seeing them a lot and traveling just about everywhere like many people since the fall of 85. So, of course, he had a lot to explain to me about the dead before I even walked into the venue for my first show. One thing he told me was that the band played much better on the East Coast, and that the shows had a higher energy than West Coast shows. To be honest, I kind of forgot about this little bit of dead mythology, and since I never saw them anywhere other than on the East Coast, or Ohio LOL, I never really experienced anything notable about the difference in energy. It seemed like everywhere I went the energy was high. I definitely experienced shows that I thought were musically more exciting than others, but even through the 90s I would say that at the time the show seemed pretty even in quality, and the differences that we can all now pass over so easily with our access to Soundboard recordings and are 20/20 hindsight was not so obvious to me many rows back or on a packed football field. However, as I write this review, I am in the middle of what is probably my third pass through all of the shows in 1995, and since my notes and observations did not survive from previous listening, I have decided to go through the shows that have soundboard recordings in order, starting with february, and recording my notes and observations here so they will not get lost! This first night of the spring tour happens a little less than a month after the last show they played in Oakland. I actually enjoyed what I heard in that show and I gave the music an overall three and a half Stars if I remember correctly. But then I put in this show. I can tell you that I've listened to the famous night that comes after this many many times. But I don't think I've ever really bothered listening to this first night of the spectrum run. Probably because of people's overly critical and out of context negative reviews that chased me away. So I put this show on and listened without much expectation, figuring it would probably not be far from what I had just heard them do at Oakland coliseum. Oh boy, the difference between the bands playing is through the roof! I was immediately reminded of what my brother tried to explain to me many years ago. There is actually a two song sequence in the first set that is exactly the same as that last Oakland show, and while Jerry's playing unfortunately isn't really any different, the little fills and the impromptu musical parts that the other band members are coming up with and fashioning on the Fly to lock in and respond in a company what the other players are doing are so much more exciting and intense and fun to listen to. It really hammered home what is so fascinating and never-endingly fun about Grateful Dead music, which is that the jamming in the improvisation isn't in some tacked on Jam outside of the song structure as much as it IS the song itself. For as much as I love phish, and I do love them, they pretty much play the arrangements of their songs the same way every time with a little bit of changing or spontaneous changes here and there, like the little beginning parts of Harry Hood or the way they may start off tweezer, Etc. But they don't really very the body of the songs, they leave that to the improvisations they go into. I remember when their Message Board somebody complaining that'90s dead is lame because there are no jams. And then someone responded and corrected them that that's because the songs are the jams! This is very true and it's an easy thing to forget and Overlook but if you really listen with an open mind you will be richly rewarded. I was originally rewarded with this show. I'm not going to go song by song because it's unnecessary, but if you choose to listen to these 95 shows, it's important to be as objective as possible it's not do so after listening to shows for many years before and trying to compare them. That's not the right way to do this. I tried to compare these 95 shows to nothing and I just tried to rate them on their Merit as standalone performances. The sound quality on this board is great and the playing by the band is very very spirited throughout. The drums starts off right away with a very cool theme and continues with that energy. High energy Peaks are reached during Watchtower ... and theres a beatiful improvised prelude before SOTM...and it's just a shame Jerry's guitar isn't louder because it sounds pretty good, what he is actually playing. This isn't a show where you're going to be blown away by Jerry but he's also not blowing it here or not trying or too high to keep track of what's going on or physically unable to play as is the case sometimes. His vocal delivery on songs like Lazy River Road are basically studio quality, and in truth, his vocal performances during this last year of the Dead were some of my favorites. It's changed to me that as his body was shutting down and he was nearing the end his voice became very clear and pure and he put a lot of heart and soul into a lot of his vocal Vamps as we will see later in this tour. The Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, I had seen it before and heard versions before where I was really not very excited, but this version is really really awesome as it extends and extends before they finally Play the song. All in all I give the sound quality a five star and the playing a four and a half star.... teetering on 5. Really great second set !!! Enjoy this show !!

I sang a little while and then flew on.

I was at the show. Here's the review I wrote that night:

Philadelphia Spectrum
Friday, March 17, 1995

In which we encounter the big hum, microwave pizza and espresso, and old age.

The show started with Here Comes Sunshine, which is a gem of a selection. Driving down to the show from Manhattan I could see the sun pouring through the clouds (and over the wasteland along the Jersey Turnpike...) so this was a great choice.

Unfortunately, I am reminded immediately why I haven’t gone to a Spectrum show since the ‘70s. The sound, at least on the middle level, halfway back, was AWFUL; if not the worst sound I’ve ever heard at a Dead show, certainly in the top 10. I can tell that the band is doing interesting things with the song, but I can only guess at what they might be. Phil is reduced to a vibration and a hum; as if there was heavy construction equipment operating next door. For the first time in 19 years of shows, I seriously consider leaving. I am halted by the wonderful acapella singing at the beginning and end of the song.

Wang Dang Doodle is next, and Bobby’s voice is inaudible. For a second I thought they would stop the song entirely, but they press on, to strange effect -- the verses are invisible, the chorus comes through. They start Pegio and I know that if I am to avoid becoming a grump for the entire show, I must move.

Somewhere.

I wind up behind the stage, a spot I highly recommend. Look, even though I love watching the band work -- it’s great to watch the smiles, the grimaces, the raised eyebrows -- the fact is that after all these years we DO know what the band looks like! There are speakers behind the stage and relatively few people. I walk up a step, down a few steps, until I find the sweet spot. And I...sit down. On the stairs, and stretch out as if I was on the sofa at home. For all I complain about the bands old age, here I am, in my dancing gear (shorts, T-shirt, Capezzio jazz shoes) and I am...sitting. And it’s nice. Old age; or at least middle age, is creeping up fast.

Queen Jane Approximately is great, or maybe I’m just happy to stop running around the hall and settle in. This song has progressed wonderfully from the days when the Dead first started playing it, when Bobby did little more than shout out the verses. A nice, up-tempo version with an interesting beat.

Lazy River Road has progressed too. I can’t see if Jerry is using the much rumored TelePrompTer, but he does seem to get most of the words right. A nice sleepy song for what is turning into a VERY sleepy set.

Bobby pulls out the acoustic for Eternity. I am apparently the only person on the planet who likes this song. The verses do drag a bit, but the jam is the first serious guitar playing we have heard so far tonight (not counting the inaudible Here Comes Sunshine). Cool.

Loose Lucy is terrific, but Jerry still seems to forget some words (No TelePrompTer after all? Not paying attention to it?) Great rhythms, and a swell party song.

During intermission I spot a sign at the Wharf Rats table titled “Last Time” (thank you Tennessee Jed, whoever you are.) The sign listed the last time about 20 songs have been played in descending order; from songs that were played as “recently” as the late ‘80s back to songs that haven’t been played since the ‘60s. Now I REALLY feel old; I’ve heard about half of them! In fact, I can remember back to when some of these were played so frequently that we moaned and groaned, much the way folks do today about Liberty or I Fought the Law. (e.g. Deep Elum, Lost Sailor, Monkey & the Engineer, Brother Esau) I also realize how luck I was to have seen some of them. (The Cosmic Charlie I saw at my third show -- in ’76 -- was apparently ONE OF the last in ages. More signs of impending old age! But I digress...)

Back behind the stage for the second set, where we can see a small kitchen set up. Crew constantly coming and going while they re-heat food in a microwave (!) and someone makes espressos and capachinos for everyone, some with a dose from a bottle of cognac or other liquor. Oh for the backstage life!

The second set opened with China Cat. At last! Real hard, real loud, playing, thanks in large part to Mr. Lesh. (“When Phil’s in the driver’s seat...ya got nothin’ to worry about!”) The lyric, “I know you rider gonna miss me when I’m gone” draws big cheers from the crowd -- a new one for me. Jerry’s impending old age (too) getting to people? (By comparison, hardly anyone cheered the “Living on reds, vitamin C, and COCAINE,” line, which used to draw a huge roar in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Dear Nancy Reagan: it worked! -- GG)

Samba in the Rain is most noticeable to me for two reasons: it’s pseudo-Brazilian rhythm is different compared to other Dead songs, and Vince gets to play a large trumpet part with the synthesizer. The band seems to dig it, but I am relatively unmoved.

Truckin’ starts from a complete stop. I kinda like it that way...very relaxed, instead of the power cheer it can become in the middle of the set. Phil’s vocals way out in front... hard to believe that it wasn’t so long ago that we thought he would never sing in the band again. (Remember the excitement the first time you saw them set up a mike stand for Phil again?) The jam at the end of Truckin’ is either very interesting (yes!) or botched, depending on how you read these things.

The jam that follows features a walking tour through Spoonful, The Other One, and the final exhibit, New Speedway Boogie, a song that has eluded me for 19 years. I thought it was swell, but I am obviously biased on this one. Jerry seemed to get lost in the lyrics. This never bothers me the way it seems to irk others, but IF he was using the TelePrompTer, it raises some interesting questions. FLASH -- the TelePrompTer, the video wall, the earphone monitors, and Bobby quickly switching electric guitars for certain songs are all doing a lot to kill off the old theory of Grateful Dead telepathy -- “How does everyone in the band know what they’re going to play next?” I’d be curious to hear your theories on HOW FAR in advance the band decides what to play. But I digress...again.

The jam after New Speedway takes its time heading into the drums. In fact, Jerry stays on stage for quite a while, doing his Art Tatum impersonation as he plays quick little phrases along with the drums. I’m not sure if the music he played moved me a lot, but I thought it was great that he was showing enough interest and energy to want to stick around while everyone else went on break.

Drums was great, with Mickey and Bill giving us a tremendous wave of the magic wand that shot us into deep space. The rest of the band came back pretty soon. A nice space -- more rhythmic and focused than I’ve heard recently. Jerry and Vince get to play around a lot with a saxophone and trumpet MIDI voices, wishing they were John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Not fully developed yet to my ear, but I think Jer digs it, and I also think we’ll hear more “horn” parts from him. 

Many people think they hear The Wheel coming out of space -- a swell transition piece -- leading to much off-time clapping and applause, but it is All Along the Watchtower. Never really been my tune, and the second Dylan tune in the show, but whatever.

Standing on the Moon is wonderful and I cry, cry, cry. Not a record-breaking version to be sure, and Jerry does get lost at the end, but it was STILL wonderful to these old ears.

Sugar Magnolia seems sadly weak to me, with the exception of Phil, who blasts all over it. Bobby’s bald spot reflects in the spotlight.

With all the kvetching recently over encores, I can tell you that the introduction to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was as good or better than anything else I heard them play tonight -- intelligent, thought out, carefully crafted, and handled with care. They were doing so well with it (and seemed to pass the starting point so many times!) I thought they might skip the words entirely and do it as an instrumental! (Now THAT’S the kind of creativity I’d love to see from the Dead! Can you imagine if they came out and did a flawless, but WORDLESS St. Stephen one night? People would go nuts! Especially the folks who spend the entire show fretting over their set-list books.)

All in all, a pretty interesting way to spend an evening, no?

No more fun! Late at night, and there’s another show tomorrow. I actually have a decent seat tomorrow night (thank you GDTS) but I’ll look for all of you behind the stage on Sunday night! I’ll be the old guy with the dancing shoes, sitting down in the aisle.

Love 

Glen

My 18th birthday and my first lot experience. It was a beautiful day, beautiful evening. Got into some crazy white blotters and saw clear through.

Long Live the Dead! 💀🌹

My, first and only New Speedway Boogie at my last show. Who knew? Standing on the Moon, LSD. What a final show. Amazing I have the pro-shot to watch and watch and........

my first show...18...didnt get in but got on...nice sbd...thanks for a real good time!

and the recording is excellent.

This show has my favorite and imho the best Lucy in the Sky w/ Diamonds. I know its like "Its 95 there cant be the best version of anything in 95". Also in some of these 90's shows Jerry might not be doing so well but Bobby can be on fire. Listen to Bobby & the Valentines at the Fukuoka Dome in '94 (http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546033) and it is bursting with energy and is completely different from some of the less appealing 90's dead stuff.

Joshua-me brought up a good point below. why is it no one ever mentions the fact that after "78, ( as jerry's voice got worse and worse and eventually settled into the gravelly wheeze we all came to hear as containing some un-speakable blues-infused sage-like wisdom ) sorry , I went off on a tangent there for a while. ANYWAY, what I'm getting at is simply that after '78, as the band got more and more sloppy in there overall execution, the drum and space segments developed into an art form that was not only unprecedented in terms of the magnitude of people that were experiencing them live in an arena, not in some little art-boutique listening-lounge, but the sheer unbridled truly inspired creativity of the D/S segments (aided by '90's MIDI technology) seemed to make the "songs" ( and especially the " singing ") almost obsolete and irrelevant. in a nutshell, what I'm saying is that after '78, the dead contained within itself another separate musical entity comprised of the drummers and their guests ( Airto,etc.) and I think that the music ( some of you don't think it is music) the Rhythm Devils were making during the Drum segments, and the '80's and '90's Space segments got increasingly better and better over the years. How come no one ever mentions this. It's like everyone's ears just suddenly turn off the minute drums and space starts. I went to lots of shows throughout the 80's and 90's and the Drum/Space parts were always my favorite, even as a 12 year old kid ( i saw the dead at 12 ) if you can't appreciate the Drum/space parts of later years, it seems to me you are missing the point of the Dead's music. the point of the Dead's music was always just this, " how much Chaos can Music contain and still be Music?". That was their eternal inquiry , and they spent 30 years asking that question every night, and right at the point when the context has been established, the frame for the "beautiful accident " of music has been built, and is ready to contain Chaos in it's Insane Musical Symmetry in it's purest form....you all head to the bathroom.

Say what you will about '95, but some of the D/S sequences were good stuff. Hard to believe there's a cassette master in the lineage. You can't really hear it....

This is a great one! The 95 Standing on the Moons really have something to them.

My First Show, went by myself, last minute friend had ticket didnt want to go. Paid what I thought was a fortune at the time, $40!
It was awesome although the show, now that I listen, uh, OK.
Love Sunshine no matter when they play it!

happy set